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The oldest primate skeleton discovered

According to Darwin’s theory , humans are evolved from primates (monkeys, apes etc) – or at least we are somehow related to primates. Even though the evolution theory is not flawless it makes sense up to a point. After that point the Panspermia theory (with or without intelligent intervention) gives more logical answers. On the other hand, if we see things through the eyes of the mythology, then it looks that ‘Gods’ have created humans using ‘genetic’ material found already on Earth and manipulating it so that we are made ‘in their image’. We know that we have many similarities with primates, but we also know that we have many differences.

The oldest primate fossil until now was about 48 million years old. However a new discovery in a lake in East China moves this timeline about 7 million years further back in time down to 55 million years ago. The new fossil was found in China in 2002 and is believed to belong to a small long tale tree-dwelling primate, which is of the size of a small mouse. Analysing the fossil has led the scientists to conclude that it belongs to the family tree of the tarsier primates. Its teeth have shown that the mammal fed mainly on insects which makes sense since in that era the global temperatures were high and jungles existed as far as the Arctic, according to palaeontologist Christopher Beard.

Now the importance with this fossil is that it indicates that the anthropoid and tarsier primate groups were split before that period of time, which means that the anthropoid lineage is similarly as old. Scientists believe that more species of the primate groups may be found of that period of time that will give a clue of the lineage that is at the base of the humans.

Top New Stories

Faced with the uncertainties of life under lockdown, is it any surprise that many people are turning to methods of fortune telling such as tarot cards? Journalists are often tempted to ask whether this is a resurgence of “pseudoscience”. The history of tarot suggests not.

Human Origins

The concept known as “genetic memory” is much less studied and far more controversial than what we know as “regular” memory. Whilst there are a multitude of other examples in animals (see: Gallagher, 2013)

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At Ancient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there exists countless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts that have yet to be discovered and explained.

The goal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe.

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By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings.